Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JKR and her various publishing companies.

AN: Sorry this is so late. It was very difficult to write this and I'm not satisfied with the result. I don't like this chapter but I can't find way to make it any better. In Finnish version I will probably change this quite much so you who read both languages I recommend to read also Finnish version then I'm done with it.

Tale of the Great Ferret, Part One



Malfoy's Heir



Chapter 9

The Traitor

Severus Snape's suffering had now lasted one whole week and Dark Lord had decided to put an end to it. Some of Dark Lord's most loyal Death Eaters gathered to watch Dark Lord to torture traitor to death. Also Draco Malfoy was present. Draco had seen his old professor only two times during the week and he was horrified to see how badly Snape had been broken. When Draco looked to his Godfather's eyes he surprised to see recognizing, warning and still sane mind in them. He had thought that so much cruciatus would have made him lost his mind but somehow Snape had managed to keep grasp to his sane.

Professor Snape was quite a pitiful bundle when he lay in the middle of the Death Eaters' circle under Dark Lord's cruciatus. It was very difficult to Draco to hide his horror and even Marcus Flint who stood next to him had slightly nauseated expression in his face even though he was fiercely loyal to Dark Lord. Draco struggled to keep his face blank and wondered how his father could so cold-bloodedly help his Master to torture his oldest remaining friend to death and even jeer to victim during his last death struggles.

In the middle of that brutal show Draco detected some peculiar in his father's conduct. He didn't stay in his place but walked around victim while he taunted him and send him small curses. Draco noticed that every time his father passed Wormtail he did it closer. Then Draco noticed Snape's wand that dangled near dropping in Wormtail's pocket. Next time passing him Lucius brushed wand lightly and it dropped silently to the soft ground only two feet's from helpless wizard laying in the ground. Lucius Malfoy continued his walking and jeering but finally stopped to place he could see their victim's face. To Draco's astonishment Lucius sought for Snape's eyes and then moved his glance slightly towards the wand resting in the ground. Snape didn't seem to get message and Lucius put mild but painful curse to him and continued walking around victim and jeering. But Draco noticed that after the moment Snape looked towards wand.

Draco understood that this would be the last chance to safe his beloved Mentor and rushed to action. He staggered into Marcus Flint who grabbed Draco's arm to stay standing. Draco hit other youngster to the face and started screaming.

"Keep your hands off me you filthy piece of underclass shit." He started and continued like any spoiled brat in temper tantrum. He almost felt ashamed of himself but this was emergency situation.

Dark Lord turn to look his young lover's temper tantrum and Lucius Malfoy dashed nearer his son ready to rebuke Draco. Somehow he thought that the best place to do that was standing between Dark Lord and the traitor whom they were punishing so that Dark Lord couldn't see his convict in the moment. That moment was enough to Severus Snape. He threw himself to the wand and grabbed desperately and shouted:

 "Appareo!"

There was loud POP and then everyone fell silent.

* * * * * * * * *

When bloody bundle appeared to the Orders meeting room's floor in the middle of the meeting few could even believe that professor Snape was alive. First they thought that Voldemort had returned their spy beaten to death to mock them. But it took them only few seconds to notice that Severus Snape was indeed alive. Barely but still alive. That finding caused some serious hash before they recovered so much that they were capable of arranging Snape's transfer to St. Mungo for treatment.

Snape's condition was critical but there was hope that he could recover. Just now he was unconscious and Order didn't have faintest idea what had happen. Their other spy didn't contact them at all in next few weeks.

* * * * * * * * *

Same time in Dark Lord's dungeon's two Malfoy man languished in facing cells. Luckily to them Dark Lord hadn't realized that they had helped Snape to escape in purpose. Punishment from accidental helping was bad enough. Other Death Eaters surely took all pleasure they could from the rear opportunity to pay back to haughty Malfoy family.

This time Draco would have broken down due to torture if his father's eyes hadn't coerced him to bear. He couldn't collapse in front of the man whom he had loved, feared and secretly hated in his childhood, loathed and despised after his imprisonment and now reluctantly respected. Pleasing his father had always been one of his main jobs. Even then he had detested his father as a person he had felt obligation to act reverentially because over and above being his father Lucius was also his Lord. And Draco didn't want to detract Lord of Malfoy.

Now those collected and demanding grey eyes carried him over torture, pain and despair. He couldn't fail in front of his father. When his strength and will wore thin he imbibed it from his father's eyes knowing that his father would not accept failure from his only son. To Lucius torture seemed to have lesser effects or maybe he just endured it better because he felt that as an obligation for his son and heir.

Finally Dark Lord arrived at dungeons to make a proposal. He really needed his best general back to field and would also find good use to his favourite toy boy. Terms were simple; no more failings. And if Lucius would still fail again Dark Lord had his precious son and heir and Draco would pay the price. Dark Lord was convinced that this fact would help Lucius to succeed.

* * * * * * * * *

It took Draco few weeks to find out wherefrom the information from Order was got. And even after that it took several days before he could safely send information forward. He was now more intensive watched than ever. Lucius was doing fine work and Death Eaters began to gain advantage compared to Light Side.

Draco hadn't even heard before about the man who leaked Order's secrets to Dark Lord. Dark Lord said he was his old and loyal servant but Draco hadn't met him before and also his name was unfamiliar to him. He was quite astonished how this low ministry worker could know so much about the Order. Man's name was Jude Terris and he worked for ministry's social and health department and still Draco had no idea where the real leak in the Order's inner circle was.

Draco's message got dumbfounded reaction in the Order. Some Order members knew Mr Terris but he certainly wasn't inside the Order. He was just one of many ministry workers.

Of course to Ron Weasley the puzzle wasn't so difficult. First he couldn't believe that his sweet Odele could be a traitor. He wanted to believe that somehow her father was using her without her knowledge. Soon he had to admit himself that that couldn't be a case. Odele was deeply involved in this scheme. Then Ron now considered it she had always cleverly guided their conversations to the Order's businesses. Ron couldn't believe he had been so stupid that he had unintentionally told so much. He had even told about Snape and now he was in bed in St. Mungo and would maybe never be the same man he used to be. Not that Ron missed that greasy old git so much but he had been valuable spy to Order.

It was impossible situation to Ron. He the bold Gryffindor, Harry Potter's best friend and Weasley was the one who had betrayed the Order. He couldn't even imagine what his mother would say and how Harry would look at him if they would know. And how his brothers would take it. Charlie had given his life to the Cause and now Ron had betrayed it. Ron couldn't even think what Hermione would say. How her eyes would become full of contempt. How this would just prove how right she was then she chose that Lagerfield brat over Ron. Ron just knew he couldn't go to the Order meeting and tell that he was their leak, he just couldn't.

He was disgrace to everything he loved everything he had thought he stood for. There weren't any options to him anymore. He couldn't make this right. Only thing he could do was to minimize the damages. He would write a letter there he would tell everything. After that he would make sure his family wouldn't need to feel ashamed because of him any longer.

* * * * * * * * *

Ron was found next morning near Burrow. He had crashed to ground with his broom. He had died at once after crash. First it was assumed accident but the letter in his pocket proved otherwise. Broken-hearted parents read their son's last letter aloud in the Order's next meeting.

Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm so sorry about all this. I have to confess something. I have been ultra-stupid. I trusted people I shouldn't had. I have been the leak in the Order of the Phoenix. Of course I didn't do it on the purpose but the outcome is the same. Few months ago I met this nice girl; Odele Terris. She struck me as a very nice girl. She was interested about me and my doings and she seemed to admire me. I was too naive to understand what she really wanted. And it's still really difficult to believe. After all she is a Hufflepuff and her father is a Gryffindor. But if her father is You-Know-Who's spy and has told Order's secrets to him it's quite obvious that I was their source.

She was clever when she pried information from me. I never understood how much I told. I certainly didn't plan to tell her about Snape and other stuff. I really didn't even suspect her even then they told that we had a leak. I still can't understand how she could do this. She is a Hufflepuff for God sake! They are supposed to be loyal and honest. And her father is a Gryffindor!

I guess I was an easy prey to them because I was lonely and so eager to find someone. I was jealous because Hermione has another. I really loved her and when she dumped me I just wanted to find someone. When I met Odele I was so eager to please her I did anything for her.

I'm so sorry what I'm done and I can't anyway rectify this. I don't want to bring more shame to my family so this is the only way. Don't mourn me, I wasn't worth it.

Harry, make this madness to stop. Please kill Voldemort!

Ginny, I love you little sys.

Hermione, I loved you more than anything, more than my life. I would have given you anything if you had just let me. Become happy!

With love,

Ronald Weasley